Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
along a pleasant city park, actually an
open-air railway museum
, with retired
locomotives and train cars lined up to admire.
Not far outside of town, slightly toward the northwest, lie the extensive ruins of
ancient Messene
, good for a pastoral promenade.
Ancient Messene
Open site • Free • Museum hours, Tues-Sun 8am-3pm • €2 • Local bus to Mavromáti from Kalamáta twice daily
Located just 22km northwest of Kalamáta, the substantial remains of
ancient Messene
are spread out just below the village of Mavromáti. This former Messinian capital was
founded in 371 BC, following the liberation of the area from Spartan hegemony. The
area was originally girded by 9km of Cyclopean
ramparts
, and there are remnants of
massive gates. Count on three hours for a complete walkabout. Besides the walls, sights
include the agora, a restored theatre, a stadium with its columned entrance, a partial
colonnade of the gymnasium, various temple bases and a large Asklepion. There's also a
small
museum
, housing a few very good pieces of statuary found here, including one of
Artemis Orthia
. Apart from some olive groves, most of the area is shadeless, and there
are no services, so fill up bottles at the charming old
fountain
in the village before
setting off.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
2
KALAMÁTA AND AROUND
By air
The airport (
T
27210 69442) is 10km west of
Kalamáta on the highway to Messíni, Pýlos and Koróni, and
buses to these destinations pass the entrance. In season
there are four charters a week from the UK, all on Sundays.
The airport has an automatic exchange machine, an ATM
and a helpful tourist office, open when flights are due, that
will book accommodation.
Destinations
Athens (Aegean, 1 daily; 50min); Iráklion
(Sky Express, 2 weekly; 1hr); ThessalonÍki (Aegean, 3
weekly; 1hr 10min, 50min); Zákynthos (Transavia, 1
weekly; 45min).
By bus
The bus station (
T
27320 23145) is nearly 1km
north of the centre along Nédhondos. Frequent services run
north to Megalópoli, Trípoli and Athens, and west to
Messíni, Koróni or Pýlos; the magnificent route over the
Taïyetos ridge to Spárti also runs from here. Trípoli/Náfplio/
Árgos buses leave from outside the Arkadia bus office 200m
down the road.
Destinations
Athens (28 daily; 4hr 30min); Exohóri (2 daily;
1hr 30min); Finikoúnda (3 daily; 1hr 45min); Kardhamýli (2
daily Mon-Fri only; 1hr); Kórinthos (7 daily; 3hr 15min-4hr);
Koróni (7 daily; 1hr 30min); Mavromáti (for ancient Messene,
Mon-Fri 2 daily; 1hr); Megalópoli (13 daily; 1hr); Methóni (6
daily; 1hr 30min); Pátra (2 daily; 4hr); Pýlos (5 daily; 1hr
20min); Spárti (2 daily, changing at Artemisia; 2hr-2hr
30min); Stoúpa (2 daily; 1hr-1hr 30min); Trípoli (13 daily;
1hr 30min).
By car
Driving through Kalamáta between the Máni and
Arcadia or the west, you should follow the signed southern
route through the city, along Kritís, Lykourgoú and
Artémidhos, and then on the western bypass (which partly
follows the train line); drivers to or from Spárti must brave
the narrower crowded streets of the northern part of town.
By ferry
Services run by Lane Lines (
W
ferries.gr/lane).
Destinations
Kastélli, Crete (1 weekly in season; 8hr
30min); Kýthira (1 daily in season; 4hr 30min).
GETTING AROUND AND INFORMATION
By bus
The local #1 bus (buy tickets on the bus) starts
from Platía 23-Martiou, about a 600m walk from the bus
station, and heads south through the centre to run the
length of the Navarínou seafront and beach as far as the
Filoxenia Beach Hotel
.
Tourist o
ce
Try the branch at the airport (see above) or
the municipal office at Platía Agión Apostolón, in the same
building as the archeological museum (
T
27210 90413;
weekdays 9.30am-8.30pm, weekends 9.30am-1.30pm).
ACCOMMODATION
In the city centre, there are very few mid-range
hotels
, with cheaper places down by the waterfront, where there are
many more hotels, most of them subject to street noise, as the traffic along there is nonstop.
Flisvos
Navarínou 135
T
27210 82177,
W
hotel-flisvos
.gr.
Quiet enough and comfortable, if a bit spartan. The
rooms have balconies and a/c, and it's right on the
waterfront strip next to the church of Ayía Anástasi, where
there is parking. Breakfast included.
€70
Haïkos
Navarínou 115
T
27210 88902,
W
haikos.gr.
Another trim, modern hotel with rather plush rooms but
basic bathrooms. All rooms have balconies and a/c and
